American Hockey League names four to Hall of Fame

Bill Dineen, Al MacNeil, Bob Perreault and John Slaney were named Thursday as the newest inductees to the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

The league's ninth group of enshrinees will be honored during a ceremony scheduled for Feb. 12, 2014, at the St. John's Convention Centre as part of the AHL's All-Star Classic festivities.

"The achievements and contributions of these four individuals throughout their American Hockey League careers make them an integral part of the fabric of our storied history," David Andrews, AHL president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "The AHL Board of Governors is proud to unanimously approve the Selection Committee's recommendation for their induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame."

Dineen served as both a player and a coach, collecting 271 points in 391 AHL games before posting a 246-182-52 record behind the bench. He won the Stanley Cup twice as a member of the Detroit Red Wings and later coached the Adirondack Red Wings to two Calder Cup titles. His sons Shawn, Peter, Gord, Kevin and Jerry all went on to play and/or coach in the AHL.

MacNeil played more than 500 games in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup as both a member of the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames organizations. He also made his mark in six seasons as a coach in the AHL by posting a .646 winning percentage, which remains an AHL record. MacNeil is one of only three men to win as many as three Calder Cups, all with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, and is one of six to win both the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup as a coach.

Perreault was a goaltender who starred in the AHL for more than two decades. He started his pro career with the Providence Reds in 1951 and went on to win four Calder Cup championships, tying him for the most by a goaltender in league history. He retired in 1974 with 229 career victories, which ranks sixth in AHL history. He passed away in 1980 at the age of 49.

A first-round draft pick by the Washington Capitals in 1990, Slaney set AHL rookie records for a defenseman in 1992-93 by scoring 20 goals and 66 points with the Baltimore Skipjacks. His 166 goals, 353 assists and 519 points were AHL career records for defensemen at the time of his retirement. He is now an assistant coach for the Portland Pirates.